Tom Kellermann. Source: Contrast Security

Ex-VMware cybersecurity head Tom Kellermann is moving to Contrast Security where he will assume the role of SVP of cyber strategy.

At Contrast, Kellermann will be responsible for developing and overseeing the company’s government and financial sector strategy, which will include advising government agencies, standard bodies, financial institutions, and insurers and regulators. He will also be charged with developing an industrywide approach to sharing strategic, software-layer cyberintelligence, according to the company's press release about the move.

“While there has been some progress to increase the information sharing of cyberintelligence between the private and public sectors, as an industry we are still missing a significant opportunity to really strengthen the collective position against software attacks," Alan Naumann, chairman of the board and CEO of Contrast Security, said in the announcement. "One of Tom’s personal missions is to work toward the advancement and proactive defense of both the nation’s critical infrastructure and financial sector. I believe his addition to the team will help us accelerate the impact of Contrast’s offerings and increase our ability to be a great partner in those sectors.”

Kellerman was head of VMware's cybersecurity strategy and chief cybersecurity officer for Carbon Black. In 2020, he was appointed to the Cyber Investigations Advisory Board for the United States Secret Service and was appointed a commissioner on the Commission on Cyber Security in 2008.

"In 2022, the digital transformation of organizations has been hijacked due to the surge in application attacks and attacks on APIs. In order to combat growing threats, we must not only shift left in cybersecurity but build security into the entire SDLC [software development lifecycle] in order to defend from within," Kellermann said in a statement.

"I am proud to join Contrast Security, and Jeff Williams — who I believe is a pioneer in the industry — to lead cyber strategy and drive our mission of protecting code security and ultimately the software that we rely on daily," he added.